Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-14
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 6.0)
The two maps illustrate how Porth Harbour has changed since it was in 2000 and today.
Overall, the Parth Harbour has undergone significant redevelopment, with many features being removed or replaced. New dock and shower and toilets facilities have been added, including a new cafes and shops. Some commercial facilities are also added like new hotel. However, car parks remain unchanged.
In 2000, There were only two docks for boats which has now been increased by one more new dock. In South-West corner there was a castle and that has been replaced by a hotel, and also public beach also converted into private beach for a hotel. A new cafes and shops are open near the lifeboat area, On the west side of the map new shower and toilets are new addition near the car park.
In 2000 fishing boats was the south side of the beach and Marina area was the north side of the beach, that has been exchanged by their place and now Marina on the south side and fishing boats area on the north side. Moreover, north side public beach and roads remain untouched.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the changes at Porth Harbour between 2000 and today. You provide an overview and make relevant comparisons, noting additions such as the hotel, cafes, shops, and a third dock, as well as the reallocation of areas like the marina and fishing boats. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting specific details from the maps. For instance, you mention that the castle was replaced by a hotel, whereas the visual data indicates the castle was converted into or replaced by a hotel and that the public beach was converted into a private beach. Furthermore, there are minor typos in naming the location ('Parth Harbour'). Overall, the task is addressed adequately, placing it at a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The report has a clear overall arrangement with an introductory paragraph, an overview, and body paragraphs dedicated to specific spatial changes. Paragraphing is used sufficiently. However, cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or awkwardly handled, such as starting multiple sentences and clauses with transitional phrases like 'In 2000' and 'Moreover'. Referencing is also slightly unclear in places, such as 'that has been exchanged by their place'. Progression is generally logical, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be smoother and more varied to reach a higher band. This corresponds to a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items related to map descriptions, such as 'redevelopment', 'reallocation', and 'unchanged'. However, there are noticeable word-choice errors, incorrect forms, and plural/singular agreement issues, such as 'a new cafes', 'shower and toilets facilities', and 'fishing boats was the south side'. Words are sometimes misused in context, like 'exchanged by their place' instead of 'swapped locations'. These lexical inaccuracies prevent the score from rising above Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writing displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses and passive constructions ('have been added', 'has been increased'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('There were only two docks... which has now been increased', 'fishing boats was the south side') and prepositional errors ('exchanged by their place' instead of 'swapped'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, their frequency means that error-free sentences are in the minority. This performance aligns with Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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